Category Archives: Office Design

When Robert Propst and Herman Miller invented the office cubicle, back in 1967, they called it the Action Office II. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? Yet office cubicles tend to be the exact opposite. Boring, drab and insipid, these creative black holes almost never reflect the true personality of their occupants. We spend lots of time and money lovingly beautifying our homes, while totally ignoring our workspaces.

Many of us spend more time in the office cubicle than anywhere else, so why not turn yours into something more interesting and attractive? You never know, it could change your whole outlook on life. Below we explore 15 working environments that should inspire your own cubicle conversions.

1. Organised Chaos

This cubicle might seem cluttered, but each item adorning the walls and shelves serves as a little piece of inspiration to its owner. Full of colour and cool design, it’s organised chaos at its best.

2. Bamboo

So this cubicle might look a little weird, but who cares? It’s your space and you should do what you like with it. If you feel more comfortable surrounded by bamboo (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) you really shouldn’t hold back.

3. Christmas

Nothing gets you into the festive spirit more than an office cubicle decked out with a Christmas tree, fairy lights and stacks of beautifully wrapped gifts. The shelves have been converted into a homely mantelpiece too.

4. Casino

Are you hiding a terrible gambling problem from your work colleagues? The owner of this cubicle clearly isn’t! OK, so I admit, not every boss is going to let you push interior cubicle design this far, but this workspace was just too funny not to include.

5. World Cup

This non-permanent cubicle transformation took place during the World Cup. Again, your boss might not allow you to make such changes on a lasting basis, but many will be accommodating in the short term.

6. Cubicle

Is it a cubicle or isn’t it a cubicle? I’d say it isn’t a cubicle, as it looks extremely mobile and seems to be floating alone on the office floor. Nevertheless, it’s a fine-looking, minimal workspace and the colour scheme and circular peep hole should provide inspiration.

7. Wallpaper

When it comes to office cubicles, a little bit of wallpaper goes a long way. Nobody likes that fluffy, knitted fabric which seems to cover so many office partitions. Simply cut your wallpaper to size and pin up.

8. Underwater

I love everything about this sub-aquatic setup. From the tinsel to the cut-out fish and the mock posters – “Performing Tonight: Marvin Berry and the Starlighters.”

9. Tropical

Another outrageous workspace in the same office. Clearly lunacy is contagious. Taking it easy at work has never been easier, thanks to the sun lounger and inflatable palm tree.

10. Candy

Why use wallpaper when you can use wrapping paper? And why stick boring family photos on the walls when you can stick up sweets? A similar look could be achieved in your cubicle in a matter of minutes. Just try working next to a basket of sweets like that without scoffing the lot!

11. Classic

Not a cubicle to be taken seriously. But why not incorporate elements of classic office design into your workspace. Wooden furniture and rugs can be used anywhere and tend to make us feel more at home.

12. Costa Rica

Is sitting in a hammock bad for your back? Probably…. but is does make work that little bit more relaxing. As does a “water” feature on your desk. And palm trees. And, of course, a cuddly monkey.

13. War

Owned by Mark MacAskill, this cubicle won Lifehacker’s Coolest Cubicle contest. In the words of Mark himself – “The war on terror is second only to the war on boredom.”

14. Forbidden Cubicle

A tongue-in-cheek take on China’s Imperial Forbidden City, this bizarre office cubicle is truly one of a kind.

15. Hot Wheels

Surely this is every young boy’s dream office. I would have worked here for free, when I was a child, in return for 10 minutes a day playing with the cars! As with many of the designs in this list, it helps if you have an obliging boss.

Gone are the days when offices were typically cubicle, surrounded by white walls and lit by white fluorescent lights. Thanks to corporate giants like Google and Pixar that have demonstrated tremendous success despite their unconventional workplaces, more people are embracing the idea that creative work environment helps stimulate minds and inspire innovation. From simply ditching the crisp white walls for graphical wallpapers to a total overhaul of the office layout, we are all trying to break the mold and introduce a unique working environment to the team, and hopefully inspire some genius ideas along the way.

So if you are trying to inject some personality into the place you spend your daily 9-5, how about getting some cue from the creative giants themselves?

Google (Zurich, Switzerland)

Facebook (Palo Alto, California, USA)

Skype (Tallin, Estonia)

Digg (San Francisco, USA)

Twitter (San Francisco, USA)

Swatch (Zurich, Switzerland)

General Motors (Detroit, USA)

Red Bull (London, United Kingdom)

Pixar (Emeryville, California, USA)

Technology Center Medical Science (Berlin, Germany)

Modern and elegant new technology center medical science office which is located in the heart of Berlin. In office design are used a lot of futuristic elements. Design of the office has only used a light tones that makes this building a kind of futuristic light castle.

Coaxis (Portland, Oregon, USA)

Coaxis new office design has become a creative, high-energy workspace. Design efforts focused on crafting a new identity for the space while preserving existing visually striking elements.

Three Rings (San Francisco, California, USA)

Three Rings is a startup developer of world online games, based in San Francisco, California. Three Rings office is designed by Becausewecan – a Design-Build Studio.

Mazzali: “Krea” (Parma, Italy)

“Krea” is the program for the living area of Mazzali. A lot of colors, suggesting a freedom in the design that should not be only space but also visual.

M Moser Design House (Hong Kong)

M Moser is a global company specializing in the creation of workplace environments, corporate base buildings and campuses since 1981.